Recommendation from world market leader

The world's market leader in operating theatre robotics, Intuitive Surgical Inc. (California), recommends the new ROBOTVARIO X-tra system from Miele Professional. A recommendation for the previous version covering EndoWrist instruments with a diameter of 8 mm has already been in place for two years. The new system reliably reprocesses both existing and newly introduced robotic-assisted surgical instruments.

ROBOTVARIO X-tra is designed for use in Miele's PG 8528 large-chamber washer-disinfector. Key to the new system is the newly introduced A 502 modular load carrier in which the 8 mm instruments used in robotic-assisted surgery can be cleaned and disinfected - instruments with diameters of 5 and 8 mm, SingleSite instruments and the new generation of instruments used on da Vinci Xi robots. The load carrier also offers additional space for further special instruments such as staplers. Two connections per instrument ensure that the lumens on the shaft and control housing can be irrigated separately. In order to prevent residue from the wash liquor from entering instrument interiors, microfilters have been fitted in the supply line upstream from the connections for shafted instruments. These filters are easily removable for cleaning.

The system also comprises an eponymous programme with a cycle time which is around 15% shorter than its predecessor. A special-purpose detergent, Thermosept X-tra from Schülke & Mayr GmbH, is particularly effective in digesting organic residue. It is also used in the manual pre-treatment of instruments before the start of machine-based reprocessing.

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Company profile: Miele is the world's leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floor care products. This line-up is augmented by dishwashers, washer-extractors and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washer-disinfectors and sterilisers for use in medical and laboratory applications (Miele Professional). The Miele company, founded in 1899, has 8 production plants in Germany as well as one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania. 2013/14 turnover amounted to approx. EUR 3.22 bn with sales outside Germany accounting for around 70%. Miele is represented with its own sales subsidiaries and via importers in almost 100 countries. The Miele company, now in the fourth generation of family ownership, employs a workforce of around 17,660, 10,411 thereof in Germany. The company headquarters are located in Gütersloh/Westphalia, Germany.